Fixed Line Crankbaits?

by Jay Guarneri
(Manhattan, KS)

Going through my old fishing stuff the other day, I found my old box of Mepp's spinners, along with a couple of micro crankbaits from when big fish/small lure was the latest fad. This got me thinking about how small spinning lures would work with a fixed line system, so I threw the box in my sling pack. I recently discovered a stream nearby with a good population of spotted bass which seemed like a good place to test them out. I tried a few flies first, but I was striking out so I tied on the smaller of the two crankbaits and gave it a go. I have a fairly stiff rod, but the casting was still pretty horrendous. Swinging the lure out underhand worked much better than a regular overhand cast and allowed for a reasonably gentle landing. Fishing the lure was actually pretty enjoyable. I simply used short jerks as if I was fishing a streamer. I even managed to hook a couple of bass, including this 12 incher. The take was surprisingly subtle. I'm not sure if I would have noticed if I couldn't see the fish take. I don't know if I'll be repeating this experiment, but it was interesting to see that it could be done.

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten” - Benjamin Franklin

"Be sure in casting, that your fly fall first into the water, for if the line fall first, it scares or frightens the fish..." -
Col. Robert Venables 1662

As age slows my pace, I will become more like the heron.

We've all had situations where seriously chewed up flies kept catching fish after fish after fish. It is no sin to tie flies that come off the vise looking seriously chewed up.